Combination lock



Jan. 12, 1.932. F. TCRKA T AL 1,841,308

COMBINATION LOCK Filed Dec. 19, 1928 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Frank 7brka ATTORNEY mlliaryg ggg firka "fv w F. TORKA ET AL COMBINATION LOCK Filed Dec. .19, 1928 NIIKJUIIIIIIIIIIIIIHllllllfm 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Franlr Torka wllllam fif z'orka BY%/ i ATTORN EY Jan. 12; 1932.

F. TORKA ET AL 1,341,308

COMBINATION LOCK Filed Dec. 19, 1928 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Frank William gggg z 'orka BY% Z ATTORN EY Patented Jan. 12, 1932 IRAN-1: -TORKA mniw mimivr :Vk'E. 'romm, or; snnirrnniwasniiieroni 1 1 comm-me e Application filed 'ibeeenlber 19 23; -lfig x with the draw The inventiOnFis an improvement Combination" locks having rotatable discs-in that itprovides a common means of-operating a plurality of discs-in combinatiom'in which lithe discs are operated by aicommonio'asing', which is" rotated in first one direction and then "in-the other, and whichflthe'-'deVioe-is -provided with a means o'f looating the starting point from WhlCh 'th6 combination is formed,

' a cliekarrangementby'whiehaproper oomnation may readily be changed by a person knowing the former combinatmn 1 Anotherobject'of the invention is to provide' a combinationloek having a plurality of rotatable discs in which "the discs may be 1 4 rotated in opposite directions consecutively: in 1 order to be placed in their operative POSltlOIl;

Another object of the invention isto' provide suitable separating means for'the rotatable "discs which'will hold them firmly inpOsitionwhile the remaining 'discsar'e operated.

' 3 Another object of'the'inventionis to provi de means for providing a: plurality of" clicks to indicate to the operator the number of points the partshavemoved. r

' 'A'further object of the invention: 1s taprovide means forpreventing the lock sha ft of a combination lock rotating exeept when all of theparts are in their operative positions.

simble ya nd" econ omieal construction. With these ends 1 in VlQW" the invention embodies alook mounted upon-the said core, friction spacing discs between the said former'dises,a-plural- 'ity of cams,' rin gs and levers, a-ba'se,'.iand a rotatable casingl Y *Other features and advantages of the in vention will-appear 1 from 1 the :followlng ide- 1 a simple And a still further obj eat is to provide a combination lock which is-of a oompa-ratively shaftya core in. which the bolt is niounted, "a plurality :of rotatable discs.

'scription taken in; Connection ings,wherein;--

I s y r "Fi ure-1 is-a-ifront.--view of thefloek-with -partibrokenf-away to show the inner fo'rmfafionmi "the -ba'se,' and" the location the ca s r651 binationf changing 'devicesi Figureii"is"a etionfonlineiikeof Figure 1 g the: m chanismanthe -normal or 1 r z rol'posl tlonff' l m F g ms ntnukgea-peasants eava 'vof thecamlever. I r 1 t Fig re 17'is av1ewofjthe ilar toElguregB,showingthepositiono'fxthe 7 various parts when discs are v partly? rotated. w. I j Figure 8 is a sid elevatidnef the look with parts of the casing, and "base out away Ito show the arrangelnent of'themehanisIn 'with'the doubleiwedg'e shaped member in a, .combinati'onehan ingposition, also showing .-,one completeeom ination disc with its outer landinner ring and retarding spring pin, and

lon eaoh side of the, disc. shown one friction .iilate.

.. T Figure 12 isaview]; sl 1 0vi7i1 g v one innerdisc tiring.

; Figurel L is a .view' of the casingassembly 1' 'rshowinggthe core-with;parts omitted. t Figure 15 lS lEL;V i6W- Sl1( )Wlng;OI 1Q friction v 1 F gure Vplate." e Eigure, 17 his"; aperspective;viewjofione crescent shaped 'camQf i Figure. 18- i's-a perspectiveviewof-thelock .ashaft. f

Figure 6 isian'hlargel p r p t w :of onespringjpin; 1

F i? 114 Y QW ow in g one. outer ,Qdisc Figure i13is the inner Figure 19 is a section through the lock core.

4 and 5 indicate other combination disks which arealso rotatable over core 1.

Each of the combination disks 4 and 5,

and also the casing 3 is provided with one of the inner'rings 6, as shown in Figures 12 and 13,'and each of the rings 6 is provided '-with a recess 10in which cams 11 are located, except when the shaft is turned to the position shown in Figure 14.' In this posi- -tionthe cams are in the upper position and v lugs 45 onthef shaft 7 extend into the recesses 10. The lugs 45, which arecam shaped as shown in Figure. 18, are made integral with the shaft 7 and it will be noted that the V shaft 7Iis, located in an eccentric bore and recess 8 of the core .1, in sucha way that in its normal position any part thereofdoes not extendoutwardly of the periphery of the core 1. I g I The cam shaped lugs 45, on the shaft 7 are separated by grooves 9, which extend inward to thesurface of the shaft."

"The crescent shaped recesses 10,in the ;inner diskring 6, form a complete circle with recesses -.8,"when placed in the normal posi- "tion over the core 1, and permit the lock shaft with its lugs to revolve freely.

\ Crescent shaped cams 11 of the same width as shaft lugs 45, and also of the same shape as the recesses 10 are freely movable around 4 the core with the disks 'when the disks are rotated and it will be seen that these cams allow the lock shaft to be revolved only. when said cams are placed in an exact position coinciding with the path of the'shaft lugs and forming a perfect circle in combination. V 1 The friction-plates 12 are placed between the combination disks and casing 3, and are l'held'stationary in relation to the core by 'so means of their crescent shaped openings,

7 through whichthe core. 1 extends, thereby preventing them rotating with the shaft.

, The width of these friction plates is the, same. as that of the grooves 9, between the cam "3""55 shaped lugs on the shaft 7 and the slot '13," in ,said friction plates, 'is of the same width'as the diameter of the {lock shaft 7 These friction plateshold the outer and innerdisk rings and the cams 11 in alignment,

these friction plates 12 also form channels for the freely moving cams 11 in the core recess 8.

and at the same time exert friction on the The pawl 16 and the cam lever 17, which are pivotally mounted upon the inner side of the casing 3 by pins 15, engage notches 19 and 20, which are arranged in opposite directions on the disc 4. The pawl 16 only engages the disc 4, and the cam lever 17 which is somewhat thicker, extends partly over the disc 5, and it will be noted that an elongated recess 21 in the periphery of the disc 5, permits the cam lever 17 to drop and engage the notch 20 on the disc 4, while these discs are in the position shown in Figure 3. In revolvmgdisc 5 the cam lever 17 passes out of the recess 21 and is elevated to the position shownin Figure 7, and at the same time the lug 22 on the lever 17 reaches up and engages the lug 23 on the dog 24, which extends downwardas showginFigure-S. The dog 24 is pivotally mounted on the disc 5 through a pin 25, and a projection 26 engages a notch 27 in a boss 28 on theinner side of the base 2,

as shown in Figures 1 and 2 and indicated by dotted lines in Figures 3 and 7.

. Aspring 29 bearsagainst one end of the .dog, 24, and a-pin 31 limits the movement of the dog in the opposite direction. This end of the dog 24 engages a lug 30 secured to the inner wall of the casing 3, and thereby limits the movementof the casing in this direction when the dog 24 is in engagement with the;

notch 27 in the boss 28, as, when in this position the oppositeendof the dog is raised to such, a position it will engage the lug 30. This posltion constitutes the stop or'starting position from which a combination is formed.

From this position the casing may be rotated in the opposite direction, and the lever 17 which is pivotally mounted on the casing 3 and held against the disc 4 by the spring 18 engages the n0tc'h20 in thedisc 4 and moves .thedisc therewith. The lug 22 on the lever .17 then engages the lug23 on the dog 24 thereby lifting the dog up as far as the stop pin 31 on the disc 5 permits, thereby moving the opposite endof the dog inward so that it will not engage the lug 30. As a result of the limitedmovement of the dog the lug 22 on the lever 17 cannot-- pass between the lug 23 on the dog and the periphery of the disc 5, so

that the disc 5 isalso rotated therewith.

on the periphery'of the stationary disc 5. In i this movement. the outer curve of the dog 24 has assumed a position which permits it to pass lug 30 in either direction, as shown in Figure 7.:

The discs 4 and 5 have now formed an unbroken periphery so that: as the casing 3 is again rotated in the opposite direction, leaving disc4 stationary, the overlapping projecessences tion of .:the lever 17 i may move; around the periphery and: the i lug 22 is then elevated so that it, passesiby-thelug-23 on the dog,

shown in Figure 7 t placedin any predetermined position] To ,placethe lock back againin the startinggposi- :tion the casing. 3 is rotatedin.a'countenclockwise'direction as indicated "by-the arrow-A v As :the casing rotates the pawl engages the notch .19 onthedisc;4, andmoving this disc with it places the notchi20l in lline *with the ratchet {projection of theelever .17, g

which projection is ;still moving onthe periphery of the stationary disc 5.- Asithe ,tmovement is continued the cpro-jection of the 7' lever 17 will pass into the recess121on-the disc 5; and will fall-into the notchK-2Q,ethereby placing. lever-17 its normal'cposition, but with its lug 22 in the way of the lug: 23 on notch27 on the base 3 by the spring 29.

. At this point the end of the dog 24 is elevated again -Wl1ileitsl11g-23 assumes such arr-acute angle that thelug 22 onathe lever 17 may iPdSSOVGI. .An instant later (the lug 30 on thecasing- 3 engages theend of the dog .24 and prevents any i furtherrotation in this direction of the operating casing; as shown in Figure 3.

siredin-athe following manner: a

As hereinbefore stated, .-the combination discs- 4 and- 5,1 and. also thewcasing 3, consist of two 'concentr-icrings iniwhichan inner shownin detail in, Figures12 and 13;; "Arepartlysquare, and when positioned, in the The. ring is 'alsoprovided with an-eccentric groove 36 inzwhichua split spring ring ,37, as;

shownin Figure 21, isplaced. A slot 38is provided in the pin: 33, whichscorrespon'ds when the lock is assembled. :7 a

7 It will be noted that thecore l is gprovided v with a-longitudinalslot 40 and-awedgemem ber. 39 having inclined surfaces correspond ing with similar surfaces in the? lower *ide position its surface -completes the periphery of the corelas shownqin Figures 3 and7.

- 5 resting against the core 1 extends beyond :the f Thecombination may be"changed as de .ring i6 is-identical inzeachadisc." ;This. ring. iis,

,recess 32 .a stem 34projecting therefrom'extends through ahole'35 inthering asshown,

{periphery of %tl1e:rlng1 6; and into anyone .of a ,plurality-,of: evenly: spaced notches 144 on. the iinner periphery, of-the discs 1 thereby locking a lathe disc'sinthi's particularposition, as shown. J The-casingfmay then revolvealone, and beinga-combination-disc in itself, canlbe} in .-Figures 3 and :7.

shaft 7 are so arrangedin'the core 1 thatthey is 3,173 opposite each-other; andgtheip'in '33 is Jtl erefore opp osite the crescent shaped; notch V llQxin-the-ring 6. When all of; the combination 175 7 ,discs are place'd in snch a position Tthat'EthG notches 10Scoincid ewith the 'recessBjnithe -.'corethe cpins 33 will1then be in line andrposi- Zti'onedloverfthe wedge 39. i

"mayz'then --be loosened and thewedge pushed w Y forward until; it drops into the -ppsition t gshownin-Figure lL thereby creating a chan nel, in" the cor'einwhich the stemsofthe pins I 33 may extend. It;will be noted that inflthis thejdog 24, thereby engaging the -same andv drawing the dog v24 with the disc 5 until the projectionof'the dog 24is forced into the ilheilock -mechan'sm can now operated as hereinbefore" described, as the operatin casings3 may first be -brought'to the auto- .ma'tic, stop and from this position; any .de

siredflcombination may be? formed by rotating" the casing :;firstE in one direction and then in r r zanotherlwtoselected} positions which maybe countedoif by theclicks. It will be noted 'i m that a spring ball 42 isresilientlymounted in the outer edgexof the casing 3, and the 'ball cengagesapluralityofnotches 43'inthe flange v'of the-core 1,'and as the casing is rotated the c 7 ball produ'ces'the clicks as it' snaps from fone r notch-to another. These notches 43 coincide cess 32 isprovidedito receive-a jpi1'1-33-shown renlarged in Figure 6. The-'t pof-thispinisitioii disc rings.

- HAfterrthe new 'combination has been for:

exactlywith the notches 44 the combinas andtherebyhold the combination discs in a;

new combinationrwhich onlyfwilt permit the-3 ,withgthe ring; groove 36-soithat the; spring Y F -;may vpass fthrough the slot in the/pin :and

1 resiliently hold the pin-toward the lorck core locktov be opened; 1

= 'Aknob47 is positioned on the outer-end of i J" the lock shaft 7, and is arranged so that a re I ccessp46rtherein can'only correspond'with the; wedge member 39zwhenthe lock is opened-by 3120' someaoneknowingthe previousjcombination and who ccanqrotatethe knob. V'This the'reby prevents anyone tampering with the combinationchang'ing arrangement. r

rItwill-Fbe understood thatchanges maybe i fmade 'in the' construction withoutgdeparting 7 7 from' thespirit-of"the-invention;: -One"off which changeszmaybe in=-the general design i Q The pin 33 WVlt-ll its cylindrical=stem 34 or 1 arrangement of the :lock or of "the discs, A ipawls levers," dogs, :and;pins .-forming parts: I

- YTIIe lock shaft mayith'en bepartly rotated s thereof; Another may be in the use ofany of these parts in a lock ofany other type or description. Another may bevin the use of a greater or lesser number 1 of notches than shown, and still another may be in the use of 'a greater or lesser number ofthe combination discs.

'It will also be understood that the inner end of the lock shaft may be formed in any desirable manner and may be provided with means permitting the same being revolved complete or in part, n connection with various latch or locklng mechanisms, or electric switches, etc. However, as this invention is speclfic to the lock mechamsm, such'dev'ices are not illustrated.

what we claim as new and desire to secure by 5 Letters Patent, "1s:

1. In a combination lock ofthe character Having thus fully described the invention described, the combination'with a casing rotatable over a flanged core eccentrically mounted upon a cylindrical base, of a plurality of discs rotatable over said core, stationary friction plates between the said discs, levers secured to the inside of the casing en- 1 gaging the d.scs thi ougn which the discs may be rotated by the casing in opposite directions, a lock shaft having a plurality of cam shaped lugs cooperating with similarly shaped recesses in the-combination discs,

freely moving cains also cooperating with the lugs and recesses, means for causing a click as the parts are rotated through consecutive positions, means for moving all the discs to a common point by the casing when the casing is rotated in one direction, inner floating rings within the said combination dlscs, and

' means for holding the rings in relation to the discs.

2. In a combination lock, the combination with a flanged core, of an 'eccentrically mounted casing, a base upon which the casing is rotatably mounted, a plurality of combination discs. a plurality ofinner rings'within fthe said discs, means for locking the inner rings in relation to the discs, lock shaft,

extending through the said flanged core and having a plurality of cam shaped lugs eX tending therefrom, a plurality of cam shaped .members cooperating with the said lugs to complete a circle formed thereby, said lugs and cams being positioned within the inner rings of the saidcombination discs and arranged to permitithe lock shaft to operate witlrthe discs in a predetermined position only, and means for positioning the said discs by the casing.

3. In a combinat on lock of the character upon the said base, a core extending into the said casing and base, a lock shaft eccen trically mounted in the said core, a plurality of lioat- 111g combination discs rotatably mounted upon the said core, means for operating the said I the discs are in a of rotatable described, a base, a casing rotatablymounted discs by the said casing, and means for preventing the rotation of the core except when predetermined position.

4. In a lock, the combination'of a plurality for rotating the discs by the casing, holding rings within the discs, a core extending into said casing and discs, a lock shaft eccentrically mounted in said core, and means for preventing the rotation of the shaft'except when .1

the discs are in a predetermined position.

5. In a combination lock, the combination witha flanged core secured concentric to a cylindricalbase, a casing rotatable on the said base, a plurality of encased discs rotatable over the said core, an eccentric lock shaft held by the discs, means for operating the discs by the casing to release the shaft, said base having a cylindrical concentric boss a ratchet notch in the periphery thereof on the pivoted on the inner side of the said casing, a

cam lever pivoted on the casing opposite to the pawl, a spring actuating upon both the pawl and lever,an encased disc having oppositely positioned notches inthe periphery thereof rotatable over the said core, said notches coinciding with the ends of the pawl and cam lever in certain positions, a second disc rotatable over the said core, adog pivoted on the said disc, a lug on the said dog engaging a lug on the said cam lever,'said second disc having an elongated recess in the periphery thereof in which a projection from the said cam lever drops in certain positions, said recess holding the cam leverin an elerated position as a projection atthe end th ere-of passes over the periphery of the said second disc, a spring bearing against the said dog, and means for limiting the elevation of the dog when a lug thereon is'en aged by a lug on the said cam lever. c

7 In a combination lock, a base, a flanged core concentrically secured to the said base,-

an eccentric lock shaft extending through the core and base, a casing rotatable over the said flanged core and having a recess to receive the flan of the core, a plurality ofdiscs rotatable on the said core, said casing and discs having concentric lnner rings with crescent sh'aped recess'esin their inner surfaces,

crescent shaped cams normally resting inthe said recesses, cams on the said lock bolt cooperating with the said crescent shaped cams to form complete circles, Imeans for operating the'said discs by the outer casing, and

means whereby the said casing and discs co-' discs, a-rotatable casing, means;

operate .with the inner rings to position the inner'rings to permit the lock' shaft to rotate.

8. A combination look as described in claim 7 in which the inner rings are provided w th pins positioned opposite the crescent shaped recesses which engage recesses in the discs, and means for adjusting the position of the pins to change the position'of the inner rings in relation to the discs and casing to change the lock combination. I

9. In a combination lock of the character; described, a base, a core extending from the said base, a rotatable casing mounted on the said core and base, a plurality of rotatable discs mounted within the casing upon the said core, a dog pivoted on one of thesaid discs, a lug on the said dog extending downward and partly over the peripheryv ofithe adjacent disc, a spring secured to the said disc and acting agianst thesaid dog to hold its lug against the periphery of the said ad,-

jacent disc, means for limiting the outward movement of thesaid dog and lug, said disc j upon which the dog is mounted havinga recess in the periphery thereof, a cam lever pivoted on the said rotatable casing, a lug on the said cam lever extendingupward and posi tioned to engage the lug on the said dog, the

lugs on the said dog and cam lever shaped to, permit them to pass in one directionand to engage in the other so that they will engage when the lug of the dog is elevated to the limit of its movement.

10. In a combination lock, the combination with a plurality of discs rotatable over a flanged core having an eccentric bore, a lock shaft in the said bore, friction plates between the discs, said friction plates having crescent shaped openings through. which .the core;

passes to hold the plates stationary upon the core, said plates having elongated radial slots '13. In a combination lock of the character described, a stationaryjcore having aflange ml atone end, a baseu on which the said core is mounted, alock s aft'eccentrically posie tioned in the said core," a plurality of Inner] rings mounted'upo'n the said core, a plural ty of rotatable discs mounted upon the sa1d 1nnerrings, friction discs between the said former discs, a rotatable casing, means for;

operating the discs by the casing meansfor V holding the inner rings in relation to the discs, means for changing the said holding means to change the combination of the sa1d lock, and suitable cam shaped members on the said lock shaft cooperating with thesaid ing ner rings and arranged to operate only when the said inner rings are in a predetermined position. A a

cides with the end of the said wedge member only when the lock is open. v i FRANK TORKA. V

. WILLIAM V.- E. TORKA.

. es 14. a combinationlock as described in claim 12-, a knob or handleat the face of the which pass over the said lock shaft, the ends I of the said radial slots terminating'at the eccentric bore for the lock shaft andof the same width as the lock shaft.

11. In a combination lock as described in claim 3, a spring ball in-the said rotatable casing, a plurality of indentations in the periph-,

cry of the said core flange cooperating with the said ball thereby providing a click as the ball passes from one indentation to another,-

and similarly spaced notches in the inner surface of the said combination discs cooper ating with the said clicks to determine thecombination of the said lock. v

12. In a combination lock, a'base, a flanged core mounted upon the said base, compound discs rotatable overth-e said core, a casing withmeans for operating the said discs, said core havlng a recess, a double wedge member 7 slidable in the said recess, the lowersurface of the said recess having inclined surfaces cooperating with the said wedge member, and

means for dropping the said wedge member 

